United States v. Deal

WILBUR, Circuit Judge. This is an action commenced December 4, 1931, upon a war risk insurance policy which expired May 31, 1919. Plaintiff alleged that he became totally and permanently disabled while the policy was still in force by reason of arthritis of the spine, knees, and shoulders, and from a back injury caused by high explosives. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff, and the government appeals, assigning error in the failure of the court to grant its motion for a directed verdict. That at the time of the trial October 22, 1934, the plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled there is little doubt. That he was seriously injured in battle July 26, 1918, by the explosion of an enemy shell within a few feet of him, is established. Later he suffered a head injury in battle. It is claimed that his present disability is due to these injuries. Assuming this to be true, the question for our consideration is whether or not there is substantial evidence that on May 31, 1919, he was totally disabled and that it was reasonably certain that such condition would be permanent. The plaintiff testified, in part, as follows: [930] “After getting out of the hospital, I went back to St. Avignon — then went back to my outfit. After about two or three weeks, I got to feeling bad in my back and they sent me to the hospital and taped me from my arms down and I had tape on when they sent me back to the station. After that I couldn’t stand the work like I could before. I had to ask the ambulance to help me, and the boys part of the time. My back bothered me then. “After that I was wounded in the head, in the back part of the head. It was the same year. I was taken to the field hospital and remained about a week. Then I returned to duty and stayed with the outfit three days before the armistice was signed. That was in November. None of the" places in my back was a wound. “From France I was sent to Coblenz, Germany. I stayed there about a month and a half. My back was still bothering me. That was the last time I was in a hospital in France or Germany. From that hospital I went to the Seventh Army Headquarters and there I was told that if I would take an orderly job, I could ride through Germany, which I did. I rode from France to Coblenz, Germany and stayed there about three months. While there I had trouble with my back. I had to climb up the steps there in the hotel. My duty was to wait on. the door and to wait on the General and lots of men, and I would catch cold and it was damp and it got in my back which got worse, and I would hardly be' able to pull myself up there. I would get up the steps when they would ask me, but it was all I could do. From there I went back to the United States. * * * “Before leaving France, I had rheumatism. It was in the back and in the hips, and in my arms. When I would have a bad spell, I would use crutches and could hardly go, but that didn’t last so long. I was discharged at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming.” On April 3, 1919, the plaintiff certified that he had no reason to believe that he was suffering from any disability or impairment of health. , On the same day a member of the medical corps certified that he had given plaintiff a careful, physical examination and found that he was physically and mentally sound and that, “In view of occupation he was no per cent disabled.” Two physicians testified for the plaintiff. They had examined him in September, 1934, about one month before the trial. Both of them related the present condition of the plaintiff to the injuries received in battle. Neither testified as to his ability to work on or before May 31, 1919. The nearest approach to that period was the testimony of Dr. Robert T. Smith, as follows: “ * * * He had a concussion, — probably a contusion, for this record shows a direct injury to the spine. He had a concussion probably, a contusion of both his brain and spinal cord. His condition amounted practically to the same thing as an earthquake would affect a building. It strained and injured every joint in his body and although the building or structure was of steel and it stands yet, the joints are so disturbed and so strained that nature began to attempt to repair them by causing an excess deposit of calcium, — it would throw it out, — this calcification would occur like a concrete man would repair damaged joints with concrete. That is exactly what nature was doing, just as a concrete man would repair with concrete a damaged joint. This man has, in addition to his spine, an involvement of his shoulder, and I think it is" his wrist joint, * * */ His shoulder and knee joints. “Deal also has an old depressed fractured skull. A blow or explosion of the kind it is described was suffered by Deal might bring on pains months afterwards and from then on. A high explosive wrecks the whole physical structure. Every joint in the body is damaged. Thereafter if the victim attempted to move or work, or apply himself in any way, shape or form, he would experience stiffness and pain and discomfort at all time — even on slight movements. There is rio cure for this condition. He should experience great discomfort, a great amount of pain and limitation of motion to any joint in his body after a high explosion blow.” The government’s records concerning the plaintiff’s condition were examined by this witness, and were introduced by the plaintiff. The witness made no effort to contradict or explain these records in the light of his evidence upon the effect of á high explosive. They show the injury to plaintiff’s back in July, 1918, and his hospitalization for eighteen days thereafter ; his hospitalization for acute enteritis for fourteen days in October, 1918; and his discharge from the army with no [931] disability. He was examined September 23, 1919, after his policy of insurance had expired, by Dr. Louis J. Wolf and Dr. R. C. Yenney, of the Public Lleal'th Service. Their report states, in part, as follows : “Present complaint: Back is weak and painful — when he goes to bed after a days work, back continues to pain and' is stiff and sore in morning. Work, such as stooping over is difficult because when coming to erect position considerable discomfort is experienced. Says that occasionally is unable to work. “Physical examination: Height 5 ft. 10 in.; weight 168. Well developed, well nourished. Head and neck normal— teeth good — tonsils clear — chest well developed — lungs clear — heart regular, no murmurs — abdomen neg. Spinal column: No abnormal curvature, a slight point of tenderness over sacral region. From the examination of this man, the result is negative. From his own history a diagnosis of sprain of back is made. “Diagnosis: Sprain of back. “Prognosis: Indefinite. “Is claimant able to resume former occupation? Yes. “Do you advise it? Yes. Is claimant bedridden? No.” He was again examined January 7, 1920, by Dr. Dwight F. Miller. His report is, in part as follows: “Present complaint: Back is weak, pains, bothers him at time he tries to sleep. He cannot lift or do days work. “Physical examination: Height: 70¼ in.; weight 167 lbs. Sight negative. “Diagnosis: Sprain of back. Prognosis : Good. “Is claimant able to resume former occupation? Yes. “Do you advise it? Yes. Is claimant bedridden ? No.” He expressed the opinion that the plaintiff’s disability was temporary and minor, and that there was no vocational handicap. In May, 1920, the plaintiff was examined by Dr. Victor H. Lemeaux, who certified that plaintiff was unable to resume former occupation; that the prognosis was good; that plaintiff was advised to avoid heavy lifting. On October 29, 1920, Dr. A. J. Peal examined plaintiff for the Public Health Service. He certified to the plaintiff’s complaints of a lame back, and to frequent attacks of rheumatism. He expressed the opinion that the .plaintiff was able to resume ■his former occupation and that he so ’advised. As the next examination was nearly three years later, we turn to a consideration of other evidence concerning plaintiff’s condition shortly before and after his policy lapsed. On May 23, 1930, plaintiff made an affidavit for presentation to the Veterans’ Bureau in which he stated: “I worked for myself driving a transfer truck from 1919 to the summer of 1921; from the summer of 1921 to about the first of the year 1922, I worked for Virgil Staples as a farm hand at Ontario, Oregon.” In May (year not stated) the plaintiff certified to Veterans’ Administration that he worked as a contractor from May, 1919, to December, 1922; that he worked as a logger at $7.50 per day from January to May, 1922, and as a sawyer at $4 per day from September, 1922, to September, 1923. On May 16, 1930, plaintiff wrote the Veterans’ Administration for a more favorable compensable rating from March, 1921, to March, 1927, stating: “I believe my condition during this period was at least ten per cent (10%) disability. * * * I further believe that the examination made in 1923 should show a condition of the spine of at least ten per cent (10%), as at this time I was suffering with back trouble, wearing a belt to support back.” With reference to plaintiff’s work from in 1919 to the summer of 1921 plaintiff testified as follows: “When I returned from the war my first work was in the trucking business. I had a couple of men hired to drive for me. The business was between Rainier and Portland. My work was to manage the business. I couldn’t stand it to drive a truck, it would shake my back so bad. It bothered my back and hips. I had two trucks and a man for each truck. * * * “I don’t know how long I was in the trucking business. Part of the time I had two trucks and part of the time three trucks — two men working with me when I had two trucks. I didn’t run a regular truck line between two points. It was just a transfer business. Part of the time I had an office where people could call on me, in my brother’s shoe shop. One of the trucks was a light Ford truck. I did not at any time haul logs. That continued for about a year. During that time I built up my business so that I im [932] proved my financial ability to procure another truck. It might have improved me to thi.s extent that I had' to quit and go into bankruptcy. I bought the second truck with my note, but I couldn’t pay the note. He got his truck back. I gave up this business because I wasn’t able to attend to it. I lost it and had to go through bankruptcy. I got nothing for my business. Business conditions were good in Rainier at the time, as I recall it. I had to go about day and night, and I wasn’t able to attend to the business I had. There was plenty of business if I could have attended to it. * * * If I had made substantial amounts of money, I would not have gone into bankruptcy.” Plaintiff testified that he secured a job as choke setter and hook tender for th.e Koster Products Company at $6- per day. He did not remember the date of his employment, but his affidavit filed with the Veterans’ Administration in 1930 fixed the date as December, 1923. With reference to his physical condition at that time he testified as follows: “The work for the Koster Products Company lasted about three weeks and I was discharged. My pay was $6.00 per day. It was in the logging business. I was supposed to be cutting chokers and one time was hook tender. * * * “I worked at this job as a choke setter before the war and knew that it was a job requiring great physical activity. It is also a dangerous job because it requires one to move about rapidly. I felt that I could handle the job when I took it or that I had to try it anyway. I don’t know whether I thought I was totally disabled at the time I undertook this choke setting work in the woods or not, but I know I had some awful pains from that rheumatism. I was in hopes it would get better. If I had thought at that time I was totally disabled, I would have started my suit right away, but I didn’t know whether I would get better but I thought it might get better.” He further testified: “I had not corresponded with the government about insurance or had any transactions with the government about insurance at this time. Not until I filed suit against them. I began to think of this suit against the government a few days before I filed the suit. The pains I had in my back made me think of filing suit. I read about it in the newspaper and saw I wasn’t going to get any better. The doctors told me there wasn’t any cure for me, so I proceeded to see my lawyer about it and filed suit.” Plaintiff testified that he worked continuously for two years: "The longest job I had was with the M,enefee Lumber Company for something like a year. It might have been a little over that or might not have been so much. I also worked for the Beaver Lumber Company about the same length of time. The first real job I had was with that company, where I worked on the edger, picking off lumber from it.” This work record is conclusive against the plaintiff unless it can be shown, as in tubercular and heart cases, that such work imperiled his health. There is no attempt to make any such showing. The plaintiff testified that he suffered great pain when he worked, and that he used aspirin, heat, and moonshine whisky to allay his pain; but it is established that the fact that work always causes pain is not proof of total disability. U. S. v. Kerr (C.C.A.) 61 F.(2d) 800; U. S. v. McCreary (C.C.A.) 61 F.(2d) 804. Neither is the fact that his first year’s work resulted in bankruptcy sufficient to negative the fact that he worked, and was able to work, in a substantially gainful employment. Plaintiff testified that he strove to overcome his handicaps of pain and suffering, and of physical incapacity, because of his desire to support his parents. This is most commendable from every point of view, but is no reason for submitting to a jury the question of whether he was able to do what he had done. We have so far considered the evidence of conditions nearest to the decisive date of May 31, 1919. Evidence of his subsequent condition and work up to 1934 was introduced, but is only relevant in so far as it tends to show his condition prior to May 31, 1919. We will briefly refer to that evidence, bearing in mind the testimony that arthritis is a progressive disease. The record shows that this was true in the case of plaintiff. He was examined on August 14, 1923, by Dr. J. L. Scripture at Portland, Or. It was found that plaintiff was wearing a soft leather belt to support his back; that there was evidence of an old chronic arthritis; that he rfras able to resume his prewar occupation of general labor in sawmills. On the next day (August 15, 1923) Dr. A. E. Tamiesie [933] conducted the neuropsychiatric examination. As to the lumbosacral region the doctor stated, in part: “Complains of aching at times and stiffness on extreme flexion. No disorder in locomotion. No paralysis. No atrophy.” He also certified that the plaintiff had no vocational handicap from the neuropsychiatric standpoint. On August 15, 1927, the plaintiff was examined by Dr. M. B. Marcellus and the hospital staff of the United States Veterans’ Hospital prior to an operation for hemorrhoids. He remained in hospital until August 27, 1927, when he was discharged. Prior to his discharge X-rays were taken which showed chronic hypertrophic arthritis mild of the lower lumbar vertebras. “Guarded.” The hoard certified that in their opinion “he has a permanent partial disability on account of No. 2. [arthritis].” On May 23, 24, 1928, it was found that arthritis had “somewhat increased over previous examination. * * * Examination shows moderate limitation of motion of the lumbar spine, with tenderness on deep percussion and some muscle spasm.” Complete rest was recommended. On July 23, 1929, plaintiff was again examined at the United States Veterans’ Hospital, Portland. It was stated in the report of the examination that: “The X-ray at this exam, demonstrates disease in dorsal spine as well as lumbar, and his condition compared with last exam, is gradually becoming more severe, with more spine involved and this is a marked disability for any manual labor, or long standing or sitting. Diagnosis: Arthritis, chr. hypertrophic, dorsal and lumbar spine marked degree. Disabilities are permanent, Recommend a light Taylor brace without crutch attachments, and if he becomes more disabled after a few years I advise a course of physiotherapy.” He was again examined May 5, 1930, when it was found that his hack “lately has become progressively more rigid. * * * The lower dorsal and lumbar spine is rigid.” December 5, 1931, the plaintiff suffered a paralytic stroke. He was hospitalized until January 7, 1932, when he was discharged “improved, apparently recovered.” Before his discharge January 7, 1932, he was again examined by the physicians of the United States Veterans’ Administration. Dr. Geo. E. Pfeiffer certified that: “Dorso lumbar spine almost fixed (80%) * * * Arthritis, multiple, knees and shoulders, subjective, moderately severe.” On April 4, 1932, plaintiff was again examined. Plaintiff stated to examiner: “Since leaving here the arthritis seems to be getting worse. Legs are getting stiff. Right knee and right instep seems to be worse. Am getting arthritis in shoulders and legs now.” The examination shows: “Loss of motion in spine, flexion limited 25% extension, backward motion, limited 25%, but other joints are easily put through flexion and extension to a normal degree. No heat, swelling or redness.” A year later, March 27, 1933, Dr. Chas. Bloom, consultant of Veterans’ Administration, reported as follows: “Pt. Complains of severe pain in lower dorsal and in lumbar region of spine. There is practically no flexion or rotation of these areas and only very limited lateral bending. There is marked spasticity of the left erector spinse, with somewhat less rigidity of the right. T. 98, P. 80. Diagnosis: Spondylitis, chr. hypertrophic, spine.” From March 3 to 27, 1934, plaintiff was under examination at the United States Veterans’ Hospital at Portland. The report states: “There is less pain now, but limitation is practically the same. His condition is severe of the spine and moderate of the shoulders and knees. It is permanent.” It is unnecessary to state the plaintiff’s work record other than above. It is substantial. The one physician called as a witness for the government, on cross-examination by plaintiff, testified that in his opinion the plaintiff’s arthritis was not caused by the high explosive “which hurled him twenty feet”; but this is immaterial. There was no substantial evidence that plaintiff was totally disabled on May 31, 1919, and no substantial evidence that such disability as he had was reasonably certain to continue. The motion to instruct the jury for the defendant should have been granted. For error-in refusing to so instruct the jury the judgment is reversed. Reversed.